Jersey Police have said they remain committed to ensuring all members of the force “uphold the highest standards of conduct and responsibility” after an officer was banned from driving for three months – for crashing a police van into a taxi.
Christine Da Silva Gouveia, who has served as a States police officer for nearly five years, had admitted careless driving.
However, she had denied dangerous driving and was convicted following a trial in Jersey’s Magistrate’s Court.
The crash happened at 10.30pm on 14 December 2023, when Gouveia, driving a police van at 24mph, ran into the back of a taxi on New Street and Union Street.
Prosecuting, Advocate Jordan Gollop said that while no one was injured, both vehicles were damaged.
The court heard that neither driver had been drinking, but Advocate Gollop argued that Gouveia failed to alert other road users – only turning on her blue emergency lights too late for them to have any effect and not using her siren at all.
Later, she had “then tried to persuade her colleagues that the taxi driver was responsible”, he told the court. The taxi driver did not accept a letter of remorse from Gouveia.
Gouveia had claimed that she “did not sound her siren to avoid disturbing patients at the Hospital”, Advocate Gollop said. Overall, he branded her account of events as “bizarre” and “evasive”.
Defending, Advocate Giles Emmanuel urged the court not to disqualify Gouveia. He argued that there had been no injuries and only minor damage.
He also pointed out that Gouveia had pleaded guilty to careless driving early on, rather than proceeding to trial on the more serious dangerous driving charge.
He suggested that endorsing her licence – leaving a record of the offence – could be an alternative to disqualification.
However, Magistrate Bridget Shaw ruled that a driving ban was appropriate, emphasising the lack of urgency in the incident and Gouveia’s poor decision-making behind the wheel.
She questioned why she had been travelling at speed when there “was not a genuine emergency” and “no evidence that anyone was in immediate danger”.
The PC will have to retake her driving test when her ban is complete. Magistrate also handed down a £3,000 fine, and asked that sh pay £800.
Following the court’s ruling, a police spokesperson said: “We acknowledge the court’s decision today.
“We respect the judicial process and are committed to ensuring that all members of our force uphold the highest standards of conduct and responsibility.”